Verlyn Giles left his mark on Florida State’s golf programs over a 14-year career that included coaching the men’s and women’s golf teams. Giles, who earned both a bachelor’s (1961) and master’s
(1963) from Florida State, was head golf coach and assistant football coach at Palmetto and Leon High Schools in Florida before joining the Seminole coaching staff in 1978. He served as the head
coach for the women’s program from 1978 through 1982 before taking over the men’s program as well when legendary coach Don Veller retired in 1982. He would coach both teams through the 1991
season.
Giles led the 1981 FSU women’s team to the AIAW (the forerunner of the NCAA for women’s athletics) National Championship and was named Florida AIAW Coach of the Year the same year. His ’81
team is recognized as one of the best in the history of women’s college golf having finished among the top four teams in all 10 tournaments that season and producing three LPGA stars, four FSU Hall of
Famers and three All-Americans.
Giles’ men’s teams won six Metro Conference Championships and reached four NCAA Tournaments including the 1990 season in which the Seminoles finished eighth in the
country. His men’s teams won 18 tournaments over his coaching career and seven Seminoles earned All-America honors.
